AIA: Architecture Billings Index ends first quarter on upswing

The Architecture Billings Index reflects consecutive months of increasing demand for design activity at architecture firms.

As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the March ABI score was 51.9, up from the mark of 50.3 in the previous month. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 58.1, down from a reading of 59.5 the previous month.

“The first quarter was somewhat disappointing in terms of the growth of design activity, but fortunately expanded a bit entering the traditionally busy spring season. The Midwest is lagging behind the other regions, but otherwise business conditions are generally healthy across the country,” AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD, said in a statement. “As the institutional market has cooled somewhat after a surge in design activity a year ago, the multi-family sector is reaccelerating at a heathy pace.”

Key March ABI highlights:

Regional averages: South (52.4), Northeast (51.0), West (50.4), Midwest (49.8)
Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (55.7), commercial/industrial (51.8), mixed practice (50.0), institutional (48.0)
Project inquiries index: 58.1
Design contracts index: 51.8

The regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts and inquiries are monthly numbers.

The Architectural Billings Index measures the general sentiment of U.S. architecture firms about the health of the construction market by measuring 1) design billings and 2) design contracts. Any score above 50 means that, among the architecture firms surveyed, more firms than not reported seeing increases in design work vs. the previous month.